Evel Knievel

Evel Knievel was born on October 17, 1938 in Butte, Montana, USA as Robert Craig Knievel.

Owned a Honda dealership in Moses Lake, Washington in the mid-1960s; any potential buyer who could beat Knievel at arm-wrestling got $500 off their car purchase. He formed a traveling stunt show called "Evel Knievel's Motorcycle Daredevils" with other cyclists, as publicity for the dealership.

His son, Robbie Knievel, took over his father's mantle as stuntman and daredevil, even completing the jump over the fountains at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas, which Evel failed in 1968.

His fortunes reversed by the end of the 1970s, after news of his assault and battery conviction broke, and he fell into alcoholism and depression in the 1980s. He enjoyed a mini-comeback in the 1990s in TV commercials and promotional appearances, but expressed regret that he had set no money aside during his heyday, to take care of his family later.

He is known for his work on The Bionic Woman (1976), Viva Knievel! (1977) and The Last of the Gladiators (1988). He was married to Krystal Kennedy-Knievel and Linda Knievel.

Contracted Hepatitis C in 1993 due to blood transfusions required from his many accidents. Underwent a 1999 liver transplant and numerous other surgeries that left him largely disabled.

Caught in the moment, after a dangerous 1999 stunt on Fox Network, proudly proclaimed, "White men *CAN* jump!", in humorous defiance to the basketball movie, White Men Can't Jump (1992).